HANNAH'S KILLERS
Who killed Hannah Cornelius? South African student raped and murdered in Cape Town
KILLERS of student Hannah Cornelius were each given two life sentences for her rape and murder in 2018.
Hannah Cornelius, 21, and her friend Cheslin Marsh were kidnapped, robbed and murdered after a night out in Stellenbosch, west of Cape Town.
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What happened to Hannah Cornelius?
The 21-year-old was carjacked by four men while dropping off fellow student at his home, who was also attacked, in Stellenbosch, west of Cape Town, after a night out.
Those involved were Geraldo Parsons, 27, Vernon Witbooi, 33, and Eben van Niekerk, 28, and Nashville Julius, 29.
On May 27, 2017, the four men decided to rob the car, and attacked Hannah and Cheslin, Julius fled the scene shortly after.
The ordeal was not over as Cheslin was bundled into the boot and Hannah was wedged between two of the men in her blue and white VW Golf.
The pair were driven around after this initial robbery, unable to escape the car.
Cheslin was beaten with bricks and left for dead after giving the men the wrong pin for his card.
He survived the attack, remaining unconscious until the following day but lost hearing in one ear.
When they reopened the vehicle Hannah allegedly refused to get out, clinging on to the car.
They raped her repeatedly before killing her.
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Geraldo Parsons said in court: “While I was driving‚ Vernon gave me a condom‚ I don’t know where he got it from. Vernon said Hannah said we can have sex with her but then we must leave her after that."
He claimed he was the first to rape Ms Cornelius, before Witbooi and van Niekerk, but “it didn’t feel right” because he had a wife and child.
Parsons told the court Van Nieberk stabbed her and then Witbooi threw a rock on her head.
She was killed around 6am on the morning of May 27, 2017 and left by the road at a wine farm, while her killers drove off.
Who killed Hannah Cornelius and where are they now?
Geraldo Parsons, 27, Vernon Witbooi, 33, and Eben van Niekerk, 28, were found guilty of Hannah’s rape and murder.
The gang, then high on drugs, allegedly went on a robbery spree in the hijacked car, robbing at least two more women before the stolen motor was spotted and a high speed police chase began at around 2pm.
They were arrested after dumping the car and fleeing and the fourth suspect was arrested later.
Three of the four, Witbooi, Julius and Van Nieberk, admit that they were present but claimed they only robbed the pair and did not commit the rape or murder.
In November 2018 the murderous trio were caged for life with judge Judge Rosheni Allie branding the rape and murder of Hannah was the “crudest and cruellest form of violence”.
They have also been convicted of the kidnap, robbery and attempted murder of Cheslin Marsh.
The fourth man, Nashville Julius, 29, was found guilty of kidnapping and robbing Hannah and her friend.
The rape and murder charges each carry a 25 year jail sentence, plus at least 40 years for the combined sentences of kidnap, robbery and the assault of Cheslin.
Julius received 15 years for the robbery and seven for the kidnap, but the two sentences will run concurrently.
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